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Scanning the world of musicMon, 28 Jan 2019 09:21:52 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.3130844950Single Channel Tube Amps – Worth The Money Or not?https://www.musicskanner.com/single-channel-tube-amps-worth-money-not/
https://www.musicskanner.com/single-channel-tube-amps-worth-money-not/#respondFri, 18 Jan 2019 13:55:34 +0000http://www.musicskanner.com/?p=2123Tube amps are coming back, or rather, are back in style. Amp manufacturers are releasing anything from powerful amp heads to small practice amps which use tube technology. The reason for this is the monotony of solid state tone, which has cause a lot of guitar players to turn back to tubes for some variety. […]

Tube amps are coming back, or rather, are back in style. Amp manufacturers are releasing anything from powerful amp heads to small practice amps which use tube technology.

The reason for this is the monotony of solid state tone, which has cause a lot of guitar players to turn back to tubes for some variety.

With that said, there are two types of tube amps you can find on the market. There are single channel tube amps, and two channel tube amps.

The subject of our article today is going to be the former. We will talk about what single channel tube amps are for, and whether or not this configuration is obsolete by today’s standards.

If you have been dwelling on whether or not to get a single channel tube amp, hopefully we will help you make the right decision.

Is it worth it ?

To address this matter the right way, we need to go back in time and look at original tube amps. Back in those days there was no such thing as overdrive or overdrive channel. At people back then weren’t aware of this phenomenon.

It wasn’t until the advent of Rock that we began to see tube amps being pushed into overdrive. What is overdrive? Overdrive is what you get when you take a tube amp and push it to its absolute limits. The tubes in the amp begin to work at almost full capacity, which starts to distort the signal. This signal distortion is what you call ‘overdrive’ on a tube amp.

Later on this effect was recognized and it spawned the whole array of accessories which were aimed at recreating this effect in various ways. One of the first amps which had a dedicated channel that would produce this type of signal distortion was the JCM 800 Model 2210.

Since then, a lot of amps have adopted this layout, especially considering the popularity of rock music and the role overdrive played.With all that said, you’re probably wondering why would anyone still make a single channel tube amp? The reasons are numerous. First and foremost, not having to include a dedicated overdrive channel simplifies the design process.

This in turn reduces the cost of production. However, this is not the main reason why we see a lot of single channel tube amps these days. The most significant reason is the fact that a lot of people want to have that vintage tone. The clean channel on modern tube amps that have no dedicated overdrive is usually high quality stuff. If you want to play something like blues or rock, you can easily push those tubes into natural overdrive. This is especially true for low powered amps.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to play more aggressive genres of music, you probably wouldn’t be using amp’s own overdrive channel anyway. There are literally hundreds of distortion pedals that will give you the type of tone you need. So in essence, having a single channel tube amp brings back that vintage sound not many amps offer today.

You can get a great tube amp for at a rather affordable price if you are willing to let go of the overdrive channel. Manufacturers simply realized that including an overdrive channel isn’t that essential anymore, and that every guitar player can just hook up an effect pedal to get almost the same result.

Besides, those who have amps with dedicated overdrive channels still use effects pedals in most majority of the cases.

Conclusion

If you were thinking of getting a solid channel tube amp, you need to first figure out what type of tone you are after. A tube channel of this type can give you a great clean tone with the addition of natural overdrive. That is exactly what some guitar players are looking for. Even if you want to enjoy some high gain distortion, you can still get that with a tube amp that has no dedicated overdrive.

Most metal players use distortion pedals. Not because they can’t get the level of distortion they need from amps, but rather because they are after a very specific type of tone. With that said, going for a single channel tube amp doesn’t mean you’re missing out on anything.

]]>https://www.musicskanner.com/single-channel-tube-amps-worth-money-not/feed/02123Folding guitars ARE a thing. Here’s how they workhttps://www.musicskanner.com/folding-guitars-review/
https://www.musicskanner.com/folding-guitars-review/#respondFri, 18 Jan 2019 01:52:02 +0000https://www.musicskanner.com/?p=10781Look around on any music message board and you will inevitably stumble across this question: Why aren’t folding guitars a thing? Despite the fact that they’ve been around for some years now, and on sale in the UK since at least 2011, a surprising number of players remain unaware of the instrument’s existence. Consequently, […]

Look around on any music message board and you will inevitably stumble across this question:

Why aren’t folding guitars a thing?

Despite the fact that they’ve been around for some years now, and on sale in the UK since at least 2011, a surprising number of players remain unaware of the instrument’s existence. Consequently, players who travel on a regular basis find themselves in a succession of endless pleading-praying scenarios.

Can I please – please – store my instrument in the aircraft cabin? Can it please, please, please not be crushed to matchsticks when it inevitably ends up in the hold?

It’s this that ultimately inspired the creation of the folding guitar. While other options are available – smaller, down-sized ‘travel guitars’ – they have their limitations. Although a great idea, and able to deliver a strong performance if carefully crafted, they’re not that easy to play if you have averagely-sized male hands, or larger. And, although smaller, they’re still larger than the typical carry-on bag allowance.

Folding guitars though, they’re a little bit different.

What is a folding guitar?

Well, it’s a guitar. And it folds. In every respect but one, a well-made folding guitar is just like any other well-made guitar. It looks like a guitar, feels like a guitar and sounds like a guitar. It’s robust when being played. It sounds great – when tuned properly.

The only difference is that when you need to travel with it, you can fold the neck down over the body, making the instrument half the regular size. And consequently, half as fragile.

Folding versions of all guitar types –– classical, acoustic bass, electric – are now available. And each one plays just as their unbending counterparts would.

So, how do folding guitars work?

Imagine a traditional guitar body with a neck that can be unscrewed and folded down over the sound hole – or where the sound hole would be. In some cases, the strings can be carefully coiled and tucked safely away inside the body. Where design makes this impossible, they’re securely tethered to the side, to prevent any damage while travelling.

This is all made possible by a small screw which, thanks to clever setting, holds the neck firmly in position when in place, or allows it to be moved forward when removed. And that is the essence of the folding guitar.

To return it to its playable form, you simply untether the strings, straighten the neck and tighten the screw. The strings will need tuning, but no more than they would before any session after any journey. In most cases, thanks to the locking keys at the back, they’ll be as tuneful as they were before you folded them away. It sounds unlikely, but that’s the whole point of the design. It would be a useless instrument if that weren’t the case.

But that’s not the limit of the folding guitar. Some models go a step further.

For those who really want to minimise the carry size of their guitars, there are bodies with detachable polymer ‘wings’. Although the assembled instrument is equal in size and function to traditional guitars, to store for travel the wings can simply be ‘snapped’ off, the neck folded, and you have a truly tiny carry-on bag.

Using this technique, theSnap Dragon SnapaXe A, for example, is able to be packed down to just 54 x 8 x 10 cm, which is frankly ridiculous,. This can’t help but raise the thought of shoddy workmanship and an instrument that will rattle all over the place while being played. And that’s an entirely understandable viewpoint. But again, if that were the case, it would be a futile creation. No one would buy it. No one would use it. But they do.

So, down to the nitty gritty…

Does the folding affect the integrity of the instrument and the sound?

In a word, no. Play as hard as you like, and the neck of a folding guitar will remain in place. That’s what it’s been designed for.

The strings will also maintain their veracity, as long as you store them correctly. As for the sound, well, that partly depends on your playing, but tonally, it would be hard to spot the difference in a blind test.

Why would I need a folding guitar?

For most people, it’s regular travel that leads to the purchase of a folding guitar. It’s becoming harder, when flying, to find an airline that will allow guitars to be taken on as hand luggage. It seems that all space is at a premium, and hold storage brings so many potential problems for an instrument.

It’s not just the worry of the baggage handler’s delicacy – and that’s not knocking them, their job is to move cargo as quickly as possible, it’s your problem if you’ve stuck something fragile in the hold. Temperature fluctuations aren’t great for guitars either. And other modes of transport aren’t always better, especially if you’re stuck for space.

Other people like folding guitars because they’re easier to carry wherever you’re going. Grab a backpack and you’re done. If you use public transport, then that’s always going to be a good thing.

A folding guitar isn’t going to be for everyone. Some people never play outside of the house. Some like to leave their instruments out on display (which, by the by, isn’t always the best thing for your guitar’s health) and glory in their size and beauty.

Some just like tradition. But, if you are someone who likes to play on the go, then it’s good to remember that folding guitars are a thing. And you now know how they work.

]]>https://www.musicskanner.com/folding-guitars-review/feed/010781How Much Is James Hetfield Worth?https://www.musicskanner.com/much-james-hetfield-worth/
https://www.musicskanner.com/much-james-hetfield-worth/#respondMon, 12 Nov 2018 11:50:33 +0000http://www.musicskanner.com/?p=191James Hetfield is a name that is recognized all over the world, among young and old, fans or haters. He is considered to be one of the godfathers of metal, and has earned his place in the metal hall of fame long time ago. Let’s talk a bit about this living legend, and see where […]

James Hetfield is a name that is recognized all over the world, among young and old, fans or haters.

He is considered to be one of the godfathers of metal, and has earned his place in the metal hall of fame long time ago.

Let’s talk a bit about this living legend, and see where it all started and where he is today.

The Duo That Started It All

At the age of 14, James Alan Hetfied from peaceful Downey, California realized that his true passion is music, and that there is nothing else he wanted to do in life more than play rock and live that unpredictable and exciting lifestyle.

In 1981 Hetfield and Lars Ulrich co-founded Metallica, neither of them knowing just how important their band is going to become, and how many people it will end up influencing all around the world.

While everyone in the band, all of its members past and present, is a talented musician, Hetfield stands out for unique voice and singing style. If he was to sing a tune from something as insignificant as your regular TV commercial, you would instantly know that Hetfield is behind the microphone.

Combined with solid guitar skills and imagination necessary to come up with what are some of the most iconic riffs known to man, James Hetfield helped Metallica grow in popularity at a very fast pace.

Rise To Fame

Once they’ve become popular, Metallica began riding that wave and producing music that was just unparalleled at the time. Before they knew it, they were booking shows all over the country with a significant fan base forming in just about any country that had access to a radio. They were no longer a small town band, they were well on their way to become the legends we know them to be today.

As the gigs kept lining up, the band started earning some serious money. Records were selling great and almost every next one they published was accepted as well or better than the last one.

Just How Much Is James Hetfield Worth?

By the time this article was written, James Hetfield was worth around $220 million. That is a fairly large net worth for a musician whose genre of music is generally considered not to be profitable. This sum is the result of hard work, a lot of touring and 13 very successful albums which brought him and Metallica 9 Grammys in total.

When you think about it, he is worth more than most musicians who write music that belongs to far more popular genres, with a much larger fan base to reach.

If by any chance you’re wondering how come he didn’t earn more, keep in mind that all of the earnings made by Metallica were divided among the band members and the rest of their decently large crew.

The remainder of Metallica members also live very comfortably. For example, Lars Ulrich, the other co-founder of Metallica is also worth around $220 million. That tells just how close the band members are and how little the pay gap is between them.

What Is Next For Hetfield?

The 52 years old frontman of Metallica is still writing music and working on new material for the band. He has since expanded his horizons to include other interests. Music production is something that comes natural to most experienced musicians, so it’s no wonder that Hetfield got involved in that quite early in his career.

He is mostly responsible for the evolution of Metallica’s sound over the years, which was pretty noticeable. What began as an above average trash metal band, is now one of the best sounding bands with the ability to express themselves likes of which you will rarely find these days.

On a different note, he is also been dwelling into film territory. The way he expresses himself through music is bound to yield similarly awesome results on film as well. Hetfield has done some acting, and is trying to develop his film production skills as well.

If his previous track record is any indication of things to come, you can rest assured that the great Hetfield has a lot more great things in store for use.

Finding affordable woodwind instruments is hard. You're either asked to spend a lot of money or get a semi reliable instrument. Vito Bass Clarinet breaks that prejudice with ease. This clarinet just works, and it works great. Bang for the buck, you will be hard pressed to find something better.

When you are on a budget and you want to get a clarinet, your options are pretty much limited. You either go for a Yamaha, Vito or Leblanc. These three companies are the go to choice in this range. Interestingly enough, even though they we are talking about what is essentially an entry level class, the prices are still high enough where you could get a top tier electric guitar for the same amount.

Vito Bass clarinet is one of the three most popular clarinets in this segment of the market. It’s more or less the same thing as the Yamaha YCL-220, and there is an ongoing debate which one came from which.

What we are interested in today is whether or not Vito’s clarinet is good enough to be recommended, or should you save money for something better.

Is it good enough to be recommended?

The market for bass clarinets is not that diverse to begin with, so when your choices are limited to several models, things become interesting to say the least.

Average beginner or intermediate players who don’t have a lot of money to spend on the high end models are left with a tough choice. One option is the Vito Bass Clarinet, and it’s often times what people go to. Is it objectively better than the other models in this class? Let’s find out.

Features

Vito Bass Clarinet is a one piece design that features a Resotone body. The main material you will see on this clarinet is ABS plastic with wood finish. That is pretty much standard from Vito at this point.

This clarinet comes with a 24mm bore and has an additional low Eb note added to the scale.The keys are nickel plated and that low Eb note is mounted on the body. Overall the build quality is what you would expect from a clarinet in this price range.

Performance

Just like it is the case with most other clarinets in this segment, you will get a very sloppy performance straight out the box.

If you want to have a usable instrument, you will need to take to a woodwind specialist for a proper tuneup. The tolerances are simply all over the place and there are too many places that leak air. One you get this done, which is really ridiculous considering how much you’re expected to pay for this clarinet, you will have something you can work with.

The tone itself is pretty balanced and has some finesse. It’s not going to be something you would want to use in a serious ensemble, but then again it wasn’t designed for that purpose. The playability is there, although the keys need some breaking in before you can count on any form of accuracy.

What we like

The performance of Vito Bass Clarinet can be defined as consistent. Quality of tone is there, and it will get you through your beginner/intermediate days of being a clarinet player.

What we don’t like

The biggest issue is the use of ABS in an instrument which costs this much. On top of that, the setup of the clarinet you get when you pull it out of the box could have been much better. You would still need to take it for repair, but it wouldn’t be as serious.

Finally, it may be concluded…

Being a clarinet player is an expensive hobby these days. Vito Bass Clarinet is one of the best options you have in this range at the moment, but it’s definitely not a perfect instrument. As a matter of fact, you should check out its most immediate competition.

Differences between them might be minor, but each of them have their own character in terms of playability and overall fit. As for Vito Bass Clarinet, it’s as good as any if you can get over the flaws we have mentioned above.

]]>https://www.musicskanner.com/vito-bass-clarinet-review-quality-within-the-affordable-range/feed/02562New Age Designs: The Wittner Tailpiecehttps://www.musicskanner.com/wittner-tailpiece-review-new-age-designs/
https://www.musicskanner.com/wittner-tailpiece-review-new-age-designs/#respondWed, 07 Nov 2018 10:03:24 +0000http://www.musicskanner.com/?p=2582The importance of a tailpiece on a violin has been known for a long time by now. This is the component that has a huge impact on how refined the instrument will sound. In a way, it balances out the resonance of the wood, and acts like a filter of sorts. When your tailpiece cracks […]

In a way, it balances out the resonance of the wood, and acts like a filter of sorts. When your tailpiece cracks or gets damaged in any other way, it is important that you find a replacement as soon as possible.

There are several things you need to consider when shopping for a tailpiece. The type of wood your violin is made of is important, but so is weight of the tailpiece. Lighter is almost always better.

Depending on the price of your violin, a tailpiece can be expensive or affordable. Wittner offers a very good line of tailpieces for violins from the entry to intermediate level class. Wittner’s tailpiece is pretty lightweight and allows a certain level of versatility.

A closer look

When it comes to good hardware that is also affordable, Wittner is pretty much on top of the list. They build tailpieces for a range of instruments, and have since been copied by a lot of other brands.

The quality you get with Wittner is hard to replicate, so we would strongly suggest that you avoid going for cheap knock offs. It’s simply not worth it. Wittner Tailpiece for violin we are going to review today is perfect for entry level violins that need a tailpiece replacement.

Features

The main benefit of Wittner Tailpiece is its ultra light construction. Wittmer uses some sort of composite material that reduces the weight significantly. Build quality on its own is great to say the least.

Wittner’s stuff is pretty durable, and will take the abuse new players usually deliver. This tailpiece is made for a 4/4 violin, and comes with scissor style tuners. You might need to lube the tuners up from time to time if you want them working completely smooth and increase their life span.

Naturally, you don’t want to go overboard since that can lead to components getting undone.The level of versatility Wittner offers is almost unbeatable in this price range. We are talking about extremely inexpensive violin components that list a long time, and keep the instrument in tune.

The tail gut that comes with Wittner’s tail piece is actually a steel design covered in plastics. It’s a cost efficient solution that works good enough to not be a problem in any way. As a whole, Wittner tailpiece is a great replacement component.

Performance

On a grand scale of things, Wittner offers a balanced experience when it comes to their tailpieces. The core performance is there, but you won’t get some more advanced features you would find in more expensive models.

Does this make Wittner Tailpiece a bad choice? Absolutely not, but it does mean that you can’t and shouldn’t cheap out on tailpieces in general .

What we like

Wittner is the type of company that knows how to produce the best bang for the buck components on the market. Their tailpieces perform great and deliver the core experience you need. As long as you know how to use one, you won’t have an issue with Wittner ‘s products.

What we don’t like

There isn’t really much we have to say in this category. There is nothing complex about this tailpiece that makes it special, and it simply works.

To summarize

When everything is put in context, Wittner tailpiece is a great choice for those who need a decent solution on a budget. You definitely wouldn’t want to put this on a Kart Wilhelm or anything similar, but they will work more than great on more affordable instruments where the tonewood is more forgiving.

Wittner offers several different types of tailpieces. You can choose the one that fits your specific violin the best. If you are worried about the quality of this piece, you shouldn’t be.

Wittner is actually one of the rare brands in that offer worry free tailpieces in the affordable range. You can expect to see some inconsistency when it comes to fit, but that is not something that happens a lot, and shouldn’t be considered an issue.

]]>https://www.musicskanner.com/wittner-tailpiece-review-new-age-designs/feed/02582Ideas To Write a Song – Basic Song Structurehttps://www.musicskanner.com/ideas-write-song-basic-song-structure/
https://www.musicskanner.com/ideas-write-song-basic-song-structure/#respondMon, 05 Nov 2018 09:29:00 +0000http://www.musicskanner.com/?p=1359Writing songs is sometimes so easy, yet other times it feels like manual labor. The reason behind this is the fact that in order to write a good song, you need to be inspired or moved by someone or something. This doesn’t happen often enough. On the other hand some people are just incredibly talented, […]

Writing songs is sometimes so easy, yet other times it feels like manual labor. The reason behind this is the fact that in order to write a good song, you need to be inspired or moved by someone or something.

This doesn’t happen often enough. On the other hand some people are just incredibly talented, and are capable of writing hit songs on demand. If you look at it from an objective point of view, even the most popular artists today have other people writing their songs.

It’s a common misconception that a skilled musician is also capable of writing great songs. This isn’t necessarily true. There is a bunch of skilled singers and guitar players out there who can perform anything you ask of them, but won’t be able to write a good song to save their life.

Today we are going to talk about ideas to write a song. What are some good ways to start, and what you should know going into this endeavor.There are ways to make the whole process much easier, and we are going to show you some of them in this very article.

So if you are stuck writing a song, or just want to sit down and create something of your own, keep reading.

Have a look to this nice Tutorial (Scroll down part II)

In order to even start thinking about writing a song, you need to have a couple of things predefined. In simple terms, every song has a theme that is found in every element of the song.

From the title, lyrics, chords, to the very outro. Is it a love song? Is it a song that describes a traumatic event in your life? Or is it just a happy tune that describes your mood at this very moment? Figuring this out before hand will greatly reduce the amount of work you need to do later.

Once you have selected the theme of the song, it’s time to come up with a title. The title of the song doesn’t need to be too descriptive, nor does it have to a completely abstract one. The title should indicate to the listener what your song is about in a way that is apparent, or subtle. This is completely up to you. Keeping things short and sweet is always a good way to go when it comes to thinking of a song title.

Next thing you have to figure out are the main chord progressions. Since you already know the kind of mood the song is supposed to give off, you can now select the appropriate chords more easily. If you are going for a ballad, you can start the song in the key of D for example.

It has that melancholic sound to it, and it best describes the murky mood. If it’s a more positive song, you can start with go from a key of G, or C for that matter. How many chords you will have per bar is up to you. Three or four is a good place to start.

Lyrics are not just the means of telling a story, but they are a part of a whole different instrument that you have to account for. Most of the times vocals will be the main melody of the song, so you need to make sure that your lyrics are friendly to the melody you chose for the vocals.

It’s not a bad idea to start singing other songs using your own lyrics to see how things fit. This will give you an idea if the words work, or how to make them work. It can also inspire you to come up with a fairly unique melody of your own.

Try to get the verse and chorus down first. Every other element of the song can be derived from these two. Your intro and outro can be lighter versions of your main verse, while a bridge can be a spiced up chorus.

In closing

Ideas to write a song are hard to come by. However, a brief moment of inspiration can make all the difference when it comes to writing music.

Following these simple guidelines you should be able to turn your ideas into full songs, or at least get some practice in writing songs.

]]>https://www.musicskanner.com/ideas-write-song-basic-song-structure/feed/01359Red Hooded Sweatshirt – How To Playhttps://www.musicskanner.com/red-hooded-sweatshirt-how-to-play/
https://www.musicskanner.com/red-hooded-sweatshirt-how-to-play/#respondSun, 04 Nov 2018 08:16:59 +0000http://www.musicskanner.com/?p=2654Saturday Nigh Live has been the corner stone of the cable television comedy for decades now. A lot of famous comedians have been a part of this show, including Adam Sandler. As you probably know, Sandler has a very unique style of comedy that is sometimes a bit extreme. As a matter of fact, he […]

Saturday Nigh Live has been the corner stone of the cable television comedy for decades now. A lot of famous comedians have been a part of this show, including Adam Sandler.

As you probably know, Sandler has a very unique style of comedy that is sometimes a bit extreme. As a matter of fact, he takes things so far sometimes that ‘Sandler style‘ became an unofficial term for his gimmicks.

His involvement with SNL has produced several great skits over the years. One of the most memorable ones is the Valentine’s Day Song. In this skit Sandler is plays a song about his comfy red hooded sweatshirt. Today we are going to show you how to play this song.

How to play

If there’s one thing we can take away from this skit, it is that Sandler can’t sing to save his life. Sure, it was probably a loaded performance, and he might have exaggerated his inability to sing, but those piercing false notes are something that is hard to forget.

From an instrumental point of view, Red Hooded Sweatshirt, or Valentine’s Day Song as it is also known, is pretty simple.

The whole thing consists of only four chords, and those chords are C-Am-F-G. It’s definitely not the most complex song in the world, however considering it was written for a skit, and was played by Sandler, it’s not all that surprising.

After all, the intention was for the audience to focus on the hilarious lyrics and singing style of Adam Sandler, rather than his guitar playing skills. If you are certain you have heard this same chord progression somewhere else, it’s because there are at least four more pretty popular songs that feature this very same chord configuration.

First one that comes to mind is ‘D’yer Maker’ by Led Zeppelin.The chord progression we have mentioned earlier applies to almost every element of the song. The all verses and choruses included. The only variation is the bridge. Instead of C-Am-F-G, you have F-G-C-Am-F-G . As you can see, it’s just a partially looped verse.

Only thing that you need to know aside from these chords we have just mentioned, is the strumming pattern. At the beginning of the song, Sandler arepggiates the chords with the intention of creating a build up to the for the first chorus.

Once the verse is done and chorus begins, the strumming pattern he uses is down-down-up-up-down-up. With that said, adding your own variation would probably be a good thing to do seeing how this is definitely not an optimal strumming pattern for this song.

When it comes to singing, it’s safe to say that trying to replicate Sandlers performance is something you might not want to do. Not only does it sound horrible, but it’s not healthy as well.

Funny thing about this song is that it can actually sound pretty decent when performed by someone with even a hint of talent, who is serious about the whole thing.

The original was a part of an SNL skit, so we can’t really blame Adam Sandler for goofing around a little, but that doesn’t mean that this song can’t be performed in a way that won’t make the neighbor’s kids cry.

In closing

Saturday Night Live is one of the favorite TV shows of today. It has given us some of the most popular comedy skits, and several songs as well. Who could forget their rendition of Don’t Fear The Reaper with the whole cowbell thing.

Red Hooded Sweatshirt is just another notable performance. On a side note, it’s one of the rare original compositions that were never meant to be something people would actually want to listen to outside SNL, but that is what happened. Adam Sandler’s performance is partially to blame.

His hilarious singing style made this song somewhat famous, prompting a whole bunch of guitar players to create their own versions, some of which are pretty great. In all seriousness, this one of the easiest songs you can learn how to play.

It’s one of those things that could make a few people laugh in a social setting, all while requiring a very small amount of effort to learn.

]]>https://www.musicskanner.com/red-hooded-sweatshirt-how-to-play/feed/02654Led Zeppelin Guitar Book – Easy Way to Learn Iconic Songshttps://www.musicskanner.com/led-zeppelin-guitar-book-easy-way-learn-iconic-songs/
https://www.musicskanner.com/led-zeppelin-guitar-book-easy-way-learn-iconic-songs/#respondFri, 02 Nov 2018 13:54:21 +0000http://www.musicskanner.com/?p=1908Led Zeppelin is by far one of the most influential bands in the history of rock music. They have introduced a number of new things that spawned completely new music genres. Jimmy Page, the lead guitarist of Led Zeppelin, is still considered to be one of the most talented guitar players that ever lived. His […]

Led Zeppelin is by far one of the most influential bands in the history of rock music. They have introduced a number of new things that spawned completely new music genres.

Jimmy Page, the lead guitarist of Led Zeppelin, is still considered to be one of the most talented guitar players that ever lived.

His skill and creative potential is impressive to say the least. From the listener’s point of view, this is a great thing. However, if you’re trying to learn his guitar lines, things can get tricky.

One of the best tools you can use for this task is the Led Zeppelin Guitar Book. Unlike other sources that are available online, this edition is actually licensed by Led Zeppelin, and is an official publication. So if you want to get some Zepp down, this is the way to go. Let’s talk about what this package brings to the table.

Book Highlight

One of the more dominant growing trends among guitar players is working on their skill alone. Music theory, and along with that reading notes comes in a distant second place. The result of this practice is a huge number of guitar players who can play even the more complex compositions, yet they can’t read music.

The publishers of Led Zeppelin guitar book realized this, and made a special edition that doesn’t come with music written in the standard format. Rather, you get tabs just like you would on any tab web site. The only difference here is that the tabs found in this package are 100% true to the original.

Having this feature allows even those who can’t read music to learn legendary Zeppelin songs and enjoy their favorite riffs. These guitar books usually come with some sort of CD or DVD that has all the tracks singled out so you can play along with them.

Overall it’s a very user friendly format to work with. New guitar players who are just starting out will find this tool amazing. When you’re working with tabs backed up by play along tracks, you have everything you need to learn these songs the right way. Since tabs are much easier to figure out than sheets of music, even the newcomers will be able to start learning.
Aside from these two features, the package also contains a whole bunch of additional goodies. For example, you will a library of Led Zeppelin footage which includes various interviews and other stuff. Some of these will even come with a tempo changer.

This is a small piece of software that allows you to control the tempo of the song in a way that is most comfortable for your skill level. If you can’t keep up with the backing track, just slow it down and take it from there. All things considered, it’s definitely a great deal especially considering the price which is a bargain for this kind of products.

When it comes to the number of these guitar books that are available, you are looking at several volumes. Each volume will cover approximately 8 songs, and provide all the material we mentioned before. You can choose which one you like the most based on the songs that come with it, and later get another one if you wish to.

In all honesty, there is no better way to learn what Page does on each track, his every lick and improv. Of course, this applies unless you have pitch perfect hearing, and are able to do the work on your own. However, Led Zeppelin guitar book is not aimed at such advanced players. If you are a Led Zeppelin fan and you play guitar, this guitar book is definitely something you will want to check out.

Overall, it may be said..

When it comes to guitar books, this is definitely one of the more user friendly ones you can find on the market. What really sets it aside is its official status.

This guarantees that every tab is as accurate as possible, and that you’re getting the real deal. Aside from Led Zeppelin, there are products of this type offered by the same publisher for different bands. You can easily learn the majority of greatest rock songs just using this tool.

]]>https://www.musicskanner.com/led-zeppelin-guitar-book-easy-way-learn-iconic-songs/feed/01908Guitar Dimensions – Bigger is Not Always Betterhttps://www.musicskanner.com/guitar-dimensions-bigger-not-always-better/
https://www.musicskanner.com/guitar-dimensions-bigger-not-always-better/#respondThu, 01 Nov 2018 12:07:29 +0000http://www.musicskanner.com/?p=828Guitars come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. This is not really that significant when it comes to electric guitars as they don’t require a soundbox in order to produce sound. Sure, tonewood plays a part in the way a guitar will sound, but it’s only a limited factor. Acoustic and classical guitars have […]

Guitars come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. This is not really that significant when it comes to electric guitars as they don’t require a soundbox in order to produce sound.

Sure, tonewood plays a part in the way a guitar will sound, but it’s only a limited factor. Acoustic and classical guitars have a completely different nature. The soundbox on these instruments is what produces sound, and the material the guitar is made of along with the size of the soundbox itself plays a huge when it comes to sound of that instrument.

Our goal today is to take a look at different guitar dimensions, sizes, and shapes in order to figure out how these factors affect the sound you will get from that guitar. We’ll look at some of the most popular sizes and shapes, and compare how they sound in relation to each other.

Dimensions

Guitar dimensions are something that has been standardized by now. There are some guitars that feature non standard dimensions, but those are fairly rare. We will stick to those guitar sizes that you are most likely going to encounter starting from the smallest one and moving up the scale.

Parlor and Travel Guitars

Parlor and travel guitars are the smallest type of guitars commonly offered on the market. This is a category where you will find ukeleles and guitaleles. These guitars were designed in a way that makes them convenient for traveling – hence the name – and for players of smaller stature to play. Travel guitars usually feature a 3/4 scale compared to full-size guitars, and have a tone that is rich in trebles while it lacks bass.

Concert and Grand Concert Guitars

Concert guitars are the smallest full-size guitars. Their lower bout is usually somewhere around 13-1/2 inches. They feature a full scale, and have a much fuller sound compared to travel guitars. You can expect great trebles and even better mids.

Low bass tones are still somewhat limited due to the size of the soundbox, however these guitars do offer some bass. Grand concert guitars slightly larger, usually an extra inch in the lower bout, and have pretty similar tonal properties with the addition of more volume in general.

Auditorium and Grand Auditorium Guitars

With auditorium guitars, we are already stepping into mid-size range of acoustic guitars. Auditorium style guitars feature a much larger lower bout that is usually around 16-inches, and a slim waist.

The overall design of the guitars offers the comfort you can find in concert guitars, but with a much improved sound. You can expect lots of volume, great bass response, and generally more balanced sound.

Dreadnaught Style Guitars

Dreadnought shape is the most recent body style of acoustic guitars. It was invented at the beginning of the 20th century, and has since became the most popular body type of acoustic guitars.

These guitars feature a large bout, about the same size as auditorium guitars, with a much wider waist, which makes them somewhat less comfortable to play. The sound properties of this shape are similar to those of auditorium guitars with the addition of extra volume and projection.

Jumbo

The largest standard body size of acoustic guitars is jumbo. The shape is similar to that of auditorium body style, but with a much larger lower bout. You are looking at 17-inches on average.

Jumbo guitars have a slim waist which gives them a distinct hourglass shape. These guitars resonate with great drive and definition. Bass tones are accentuated while trebles and mids project with a lot of power.

Cutaways

Acoustic guitars sometimes feature a cutaway, no matter which body style you look at. A cutaway is great because it allows the player to reach high notes on the fretboard, however it impacts the sound of the guitar in certain ways.

With that said, the difference is often times barely noticeable and many guitar players prefer to have a cutaway on their guitar simply because it makes the instrument more comfortable to play.

To conclude

Different body styles and guitar dimensions have different properties. Choosing an acoustic guitar depends on what you want that guitar to sound like, and what is comfortable for you to play.

The latter should be your main guideline when looking at different guitar sizes. If you can’t play the instrument comfortably, nothing else really matters.

]]>https://www.musicskanner.com/guitar-dimensions-bigger-not-always-better/feed/0828Dave Grohl Guitar Rig a pretty unique stylehttps://www.musicskanner.com/dave-grohl-guitar-rig/
https://www.musicskanner.com/dave-grohl-guitar-rig/#respondWed, 03 Oct 2018 13:13:27 +0000http://www.musicskanner.com/?p=464Foo Fighters are one of the rare few bands today who still offer that authentic and raw hard rock sound. There’s no high gain distortion, no muddy sound. Just pure rock. Dave Grohl is responsible for a large portion of this sound. He has a very unique outlook on music, and how he achieves the […]

Foo Fighters are one of the rare few bands today who still offer that authentic and raw hard rock sound. There’s no high gain distortion, no muddy sound. Just pure rock.

Dave Grohl is responsible for a large portion of this sound. He has a very unique outlook on music, and how he achieves the color of his guitar’s tone. Grohl manages to extract a lot of juice from not much equipment as you will see when we go over Dave Grohl guitar rig.

Dave Grohl is one of rare guitar players who likes to shape his sound by relying on his guitar and amp for the most part. Sure there are some effects pedals on his pedalboard, but you could probably find a more complex pedal chain at your local battle of the bands.

Today we are going to take a look at what kind of equipment Dave Grohl uses, including his guitars, amps, pedals, and see exactly how he achieves his sound.

Guitars

If you manage to get backstage and take a peek at Grohl’s guitar rack, you will see an obvious pattern. Dave is a fan of Gibson guitars, and they make the majority of his selection every time he is touring with the Foo Fighters. There’s a lot of variety when it comes to the specific models of Gibson guitar he uses, while he has been seen with an Epiphone on one occasion.

There’s one specific model of Gibson guitars that is Grohl’s personal favorite. His Gibson Trini Lopez Standard Custom Reissue is what he used to record almost every single Foo Fighter record. He got that guitar in early ’90s and it never left his side since. He once even said that he sometimes sleeps with this guitar in bed right next to him. The man obviously loves his Trini.

Aside from his Trini, Grohl seems to prefer the classic Les Pauls. There are also several Explorers in the mix, which he used extensively during the early years of Foo Fighters. Grohl also expressed his affection for Gibson RD Artist several times, stating once that it was like “holding a kitchen table to your chest and having it scream like a jet fighter.” His acoustic guitars also include some Gibson models, however he seems to prefer his Taylor 900 series.

Amps

There are really only two amps that stand out in Grohl’s gear. His Vox AC30 and his Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier. These two amps are pretty much instrumental for the sound that Foo Fighters are known for. Vox AC30 is undoubtedly his favorite amp as it perfectly fits into Grohl’s ideology of achieving a good distortion without effects pedals. He likes to push that amp hard, cranking the volume up until those tube reach that sweet spot and start producing a very organic distortion. In all essence, he just loves that tube amp overdrive, and so do we.

Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifieris a complete opposite, and offers a very sinister distortion. Grohl uses this amp when he needs a really dirty distortion that is rich in gain. Even though this doesn’t happen often, and he tries his best to achieve everything using the AC30, he does like that Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier.

Effects pedals

Dave Grohl’s pedalboard is pretty simple and usually consists of only three pedals which he used for years now. Grohl uses the Boss DM-2 Analog Delay and Boss DD-3 Digital Delay depending on what kind of effects he wants to achieve.

These two pedals offer a minimally intrusive delay, and that’s probably why he likes them so much. There’s also the MXR Phase 90 on his pedalboard, which is a legend in its own right. Aside from these three effects pedals there are only two tuners that he occasionally uses.

Dave Grohl’s lack of effects pedals comes from his personal belief that they take away from what rock is supposed to be – raw and powerful music. He sees distortion pedals as being too sharp and introducing too much gain. In his opinion, pushing tubes to overdrive gives a much better sounding result.

Seeing how many artists use an overwhelming amount of effects in their music, Grohl’s approach is quite refreshing.

Everything considered

Dave Grohl has a pretty unique style that is responsible for a good portion Foo Fighter’s sound. Through his simplistic ways, Grohl has become a master of achieving a great distortion using only his amps.

Dave Grohl guitar rig is pretty specific, but you don’t need all that stuff if you want to achieve the same sound. It’s quite possible to recreate his results using rather affordable gear.

Vox makes low-power tube amps which share a good deal of identity with the Vox AC30, which allows you to crank that volume up high without it being too loud.

These amps are within what is considered affordable, so if you really want to follow Grohl’s path, you won’t have to spend a lot of money in doing so.